New link road essential to town's future

That s the warning Rother planning officer Les Robinson will give Monday s Town Hall meeting of the cabinet.

He says that unless the proposed "link road" is built, developments that are the basis of the town s economic regeneration will be endangered.

Under discussion on Monday will be progress on drawing up the new Local Plan. The plan is required by law and will set out the authority s policies and proposals for the development and use of land in the district.

But Transport Secretary Stephen Byers refusal of the Bexhill and Hastings Bypass has thrown a spanner in the works and it now looks as if the much-revised plan won t meet its deadline for the next round of public consultation.